Picture books are a great introduction to children who are learning to read and to encourage reluctant readers. However, older children who want a bit more bite out of their books will be looking for story books. These books are sometimes referred to as Chapter books (as they have chapters) or in Americanism, middle grade books, typically books for children between 8-12.

One of Oyez! first story books was Master & Apprentice by Lim Lay Har with some black and white illustrations by Lim Lay Koon. This book won the Calistro Prize and was published on behalf of the prize.

This story tells of life in a typical small town in Malaysia, with some very interesting characters. The main character was an elderly man who had been making and selling kuih for many years, indeed, he’d raised his family doing just that. He wanted to pass on his special kuih lapis recipe but his only son preferred western-style baking and life in the city. One day, in conjunction with the Merdeka celebration, a cake competition was organised and the elderly man challenged his son to take part. This humorous story will appeal to slightly older children (we have seen adults quietly reading it too) and the black and white illustrations are a wonderful addition.

Pigeon Post by Gwen Smith has six separate stories featuring some very determined, courageous and ingenious children. One was caught in a landslide; another saved some chickens when a lorry carrying them had an accident; while some schoolchildren and their teachers found a way to find homes for homeless kittens. And what is more Malaysian than monkeys that we see in hilly and leafy areas. In this story, the monkeys are losing their home to a new golf course. With black and white illustrations by Lim Lay Koon, we only wish there are more such stories.

These stories feature some very determined, courageous and ingenious children.

Rainforest Hike by Cecilia Leong is suitable for younger readers who are just starting on chapter books. The illustrations are in colour (by Chooi Ling Keiong) and features a young girl, her family and her best friend. The author highlights traditions such as making acar, bedak sejuk, tang yuan and simple activities such as going to the pasar malam, hiking and fishing in the river. Even in today's on-demand entertainment from various electronic devices, we know that children love making things and playing with their hands. They feel such a sense of accomplishment and are so proud of their creations. This book certainly enables a number of creative activities with children.

Making acar, bedak sejuk or tang yuan, this collection of stories highlight the traditional as well as seeing the everyday with fresh eyes.

... the extraordinary people that are a part of Malaysia’s history.

Next, we have Heidi Shamsuddin's Door Under the Stairs series which combines school life with mystery and history. Three children, Emil, Hanna and Jo discover a door under the stairs near the school science laboratory. But it is no ordinary door as it takes them to the past, more specifically to Malaysia's past. In the first book, The Mystery of the Missing National Anthem, they met Malaysia's first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman who was looking for a suitable national anthem for the new country, Malaysia. Coming from the future, they were able to help the Prime Minister select the 'right' national anthem which became Negaraku.

In the second book, The Case of the Talented Trio, young readers get to meet the great P. Ramlee, musician, singer, actor, playwright, and director extraordinaire. Children today may not have heard of P. Ramlee so we hope through this book, apart from enjoying the story, they may get to learn about another slice of history and the extraordinary people that are a part of Malaysia’s history.

In the third book, The Case of the Football Champion, young readers will be brought back to a golden period of the game in Malaysia's history. Both boys and girls love this story!

All the stories are fiction, but they are based on historical facts and life in the period mentioned. They are great reads besides being informative.

The fourth book, The Case of the House at No. 74, is perhaps the most harrowing book among the current five, with our young heroes finding themselves right in the middle of a real war, ie World War II. But otherwise how could they have met someone so special as Sybil Kathigasu, the courageous war time nurse who only wanted to save lives.

The latest book in the Door Under the Stairs series is The Case of the Missing Elephants which takes readers further back into Malaysia's history with the discovery of tin in Perak.

All the stories are fiction, but they are based on historical facts and life in the period mentioned. Besides having to do a lot of research, the writer, Heidi also has three school-going children of her own who must have inspired her because all the books are great reads, besides being informative. Lim Lay Koon, who has become our favourite illustrator for black and white illustrations, illustrated all the books in this series.

To celebrate Merdeka and Malaysia Day, we will be having promotions for two whole months, August through to September. So don't miss this chance to get more Malaysian stories for your children. In addition, watch this space as we will be highlighting more books as well as behind the scenes with Oyez! publishing.